Axle Air Springs
Custom-made Axle Air Spring Solutions
Decades of expertise in the research and development of innovative axle air spring systems have enabled Continental to take a leading position as a development and supply partner in the global commercial vehicle market.
Continental knows and understands the specific requirements of truck, bus and trailer manufacturers and works in close cooperation with them to develop customized solutions that boast the highest possible degree of quality, functionality, reliability and cost effectiveness.
Bus air springs enable constant and low natural frequency for empty and laden conditions and therefore provide excellent ride comfort for the passenger.
Bus air springs support the kneeling function for convenient passenger entry and exit.
As a general rule, two air springs are fitted to the front axle and four to the rear axle.
Continental bus air springs provide effective solutions:
- Integrated air spring shock absorber modules to meet the most stringent of demands in terms of comfort
- Maximum resistance against heat sources, e.g. engine and exhaust treatment, and hot environments
- Compact spring design for limited installation space
The weight of a truck, and therefore the axle load, fluctuates greatly depending on the payload. In order to provide the best possible solution to meet the resulting suspension requirements, virtually all commercial vehicle manufacturers make use of air springs. Air-suspended trucks with level control system provide constant chassis height and road clearance, regardless of the loading weight.
Constant and low natural frequency between tare and full load can only be achieved using air springs. This ensures effective cargo protection, even on poor road surfaces, excellent comfort and health protection for the truck driver and safe driving conditions. In addition, truck air springs enable the vehicle body to be raised and lowered for loading and unloading operations via manually operated chassis height control units.
This enables easy truck height adjustment for trailer king pin connection, swap body handling or loading ramps.
Continental truck air springs provide substantial performance benefits:
- High degree of comfort and can be installed in small spaces
- Fuel economy and payload increase thanks to their lightweight design
- Robustness across an extended operating temperature range
Air suspension on trailers provides protection for both payload and trailer body, including mounted equipment.
Trailer air springs further contribute to reduced road wear thanks to their low natural frequency, reduced unsprung axle mass and reduced wheel load fluctuations. This aspect is of growing importance as traffic volume is increasing.
As a rule, each axle has two air springs. In multi-axle combinations, one axle is frequently provided with an axle-lifting device to reduce tire wear on empty runs or when the vehicle is only partially loaded. Convoluted air springs are normally used for raising and lowering lift axles.
Continental trailer air springs are designed with a specific focus on the following aspects:
- Optimum cost-effectiveness achieved through the selection of specific materials and components in line with the application requirements
- Robust solutions incorporating a high degree of functionality
